Somerset County Jury convicts Virginia man who made national headlines back in 2010

SOMERVILLE — The Virgina man who made national headlines for alleged possession of assault rifles and other apparent weapons of terrorism after his apprehension in Branchburg back on Jan. 25, 2010, was found guilty by a Somerset County Jury of all charges against him.

Branchburg police officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 3:55 a.m. regarding a suspicious person inside a Quick Chek convenience store located at 1296 Route 28 in Branchburg Township.

Patrolman Steven Cronce, the first officer on the scene, noticed that Woodson was extremely nervous and noticed a large bulge in the front of the Woodson's green military-style jacket.

After a brief conversation with Officer Cronce, Woodson ran out of the store and fled on foot towards the Regency Trailer Park on Route 22.

Additional officers responded to the location and began to canvass the immediate area.

Woodson was subsequently observed lying and hiding in bushes on the Regency Trailer Park property.

Defendant Woodson refused to comply with the orders of the officers.

He once again began to flee on foot and was tackled to the ground by Branchburg officers.

Woodson began to struggle with the arresting officers who had to use pepper spray in order to subdue him.

During the struggle, officers noticed that Woodson was concealing a loaded Bushmaster semi-automatic .223 caliber rifle which was converted to .50 caliber.

Officers were able to place Woodson under arrest, and a search incident to arrest revealed that defendant Woodson was wearing a military-style ballistic vest with a reinforced front steel plate, had four additional loaded magazines, all containing ball type and hollow point ammunition. This Bushmaster rifle had a defaced serial number.

The officers also discovered that there was a bag inside one of the pockets of his coat; inside the bag were pieces of cut wire clothes hangers.

A search of Woodson's motel room at the Red Mill Inn, Route 22 in Branchburg Township resulted in the seizure of a Bushmaster .308 caliber semi-automatic rifle with a defaced serial number, a second ballistic vest, a rifle mountable Nightsight Illuminator NP75 (Russia) night vision scope, a police scanner, a military-style backpack, and hundreds of additional .50 caliber and .308 caliber ammunition along with military pouches and garrison equipment.

Further investigation revealed that Woodson had been in the Quick Chek for about 40 minutes.

About 30 minutes before his arrival at the store, he went to another motel where he asked an employee where the nearest 7-Eleven convenience store was located.

The employee informed him that the nearest 7-Eleven was several miles away, then indicated the directions to the nearby Quick Chek.

The employee then observed Woodson walk in that direction.

Subsequent to the incident, it was learned that Woodson had committed an armed robbery at a 7-11 in Reston, Va., on Dec. 28, 2009, during the early morning hours.

He displayed the same rifle that he had in his possession in New Jersey to the employees, and used cut pieces of wire hangers to tie the hands and feet of the employees.

The cut pieces of wire hangers were similar to those recovered from defendant in New Jersey.

Charges against Woodson are pending in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The trial in Somerset County commenced before the Honorable Robert B. Reed, J.S.C., with jury selection on May 9, 2012.

The jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours before returning the guilty verdicts. Woodson faces a maximum sentence of 28 years in New Jersey State Prison, with a 16 1/2 year parole disqualifier.

Following the verdict, Judge Reed ordered that Woodson, who had remained in the Somerset County Jail pending trial in lieu of $75,000 bail, be held without bail pending sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2012.

This matter was investigated by the Branchburg Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Squad.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms provided assistance.

Also providing assistance was the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department.